This Little Piggy is Going to the Market

Its 4:45, my kids are jumping on the trampoline and I ‘m writing this blog post while I watch them and enjoy a wine cooler.  Do I drink with my kids around every afternoon? No. But today I’m celebrating.  It’s been a marathon week. A mombie week to the max.  About three weeks ago I decided to sign up for my first craft show.  I got to work putting in extra late night hours trying to get an inventory of aprons built up so I would have something to fill my booth with.  Here are just a few of the new ones I have done.  In total I have 19 going to my booth.  Oh and I promise I will iron out their folding lines before I put them out 🙂

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When I got done with that I thought I should have some fillers so I decided to make a few stuffed animals.  I did 4 of the whales I’ve made in the past and then to try something new I did 4 dinosaurs.   Because who doesn’t love a cute dinosaur decked out in polka dots and rick rack.

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Although I was feeling a little time pressure I decided to do one more sewn item, something that would compliment my aprons.  I came up with a 9×13 hotpad.  Good thing there is this magical world called pinterest that will give you exact instructions on the best way to make a hotpad because I had never made one before.  I have 10 done now.  Here are a few.

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So by the end of last week I was feeling pretty good.  I had a few sewing items to finish but nothing that wouldn’t get done in time.  That’s when a little thought popped into my head.  A wonderful and horrible idea.  Why not bring some of my wooden items with too.  This is my chance to make a few things that I don’t want to sell on etsy because I don’t want to deal with the hassle of shipping.  So I thought I’ll do a couple blanket ladders.  Yeah I can do those easy enough.

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But then I decided well I can’t just have two home decor items so then I thought how about a couple wooden centerpiece boxes. I’ve been wanting one for myself so if they don’t sell I can use them.  I made two – a chalk painted one and a stained one.  These look so pretty on a table or console table filled with flowers and candles in the spring or pinecones and ornaments at Christmas time.

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But then my evil brain just wouldn’t shut off and I decided to add a sign….or 6.  They are all very Fixer Upper inspired.

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plus a bathroom towel holder…

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So its been a marathon week of late nights and early mornings and now I need to see if i can go create something to cover up the bags under my eyes 🙂

But seriously I’m excited and I’m happy. I feel prepared for my first craft show.  I remember going to them with my mom when I was little and looking at all the booths and just loving it.   My mom would always say to me, “you know Heather I bet you could do this if you wanted to. People would buy your stuff.” I always blew it off though. But one thing I’ve learned over the years is you should listen to your mom because she usually knows a thing or two 😉  So I’m taking the plunge, I’m putting myself out there and hopefully just hopefully a couple of my items will sell.

If you are in Grafton, North Dakota this Saturday from 7am to 2 pm stop on out at the Centennial Center. Its called the Everything Goes Show. There will be craft vendors, food vendors and even garage sale booths.

If you aren’t able to make it but you see something in these pictures that you would like and you are in the delivery area (I feel like a Chinese delivery restaurant when I say that) please feel free to message me and I can make a custom order for you. Also all aprons and hotpads that do not sell this weekend will be posted on my etsy site next week.  Thanks to all who have offered me kind words and helped to build my confidence to the point where I finally feel ready to do this.  A little support goes a long ways!

P.S.  The thankful and grateful sign was one I just did last night and I got the inspiration for it off something my sister Carmen had posted on her facebook.  It was about 1:30 in the morning when I finished it up and showed it to my husband.  He stared at it for like 30 seconds not saying anything and I was cranky and tired and thinking “what is it???”.  Finally he said,  “honey I think you spelled thankful wrong – the k is missing”.  I had been concentrating and painting so carefully only to have missed the k.  ThanKfully (see how I did that) that sign was made of three separate boards and I only had to redo the one that said that word.

P.P.S.  If you think I got this blog post done and got to finish my wine cooler in peace and relaxation you are sadly wrong.  I was interrupted for a hurt kid (he’s not really hurt), a hungry kid, someone that had to go to the bathroom, and spilled milk all in that order I believe. Lol!  I guess I will try to have the wine cooler after they go to bed – if I’m not already in a coma on the couch 😉

 

 

4 Comments

  1. Margaret McMullen

    You are so talented! I love reading your blogs and wish you the best luck at the craft show! You will have to update on how it goes!

    • hjalmen

      Awe thanks Margaret!! I will for sure let everyone know how it goes… Unless it goes horribly and then you will never here from me again ?. Lol! Jk

  2. Susan Anderson

    Heather – you continue to amaze:-) Good luck at the sale! I bet your stuff will sell out very quickly – I wish I could be there! Much love!

  3. Mary G

    Oh how I wish I were going to be in Grafton this week-end! It sounds like a fun event, and you have a wonderful trove of goodies for your booth. I’m sure it will be a hit!

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